This blog will be about life and relationships; mostly, from what I’ve learned from my two companion animals, Dali and Oskar. Sometimes I’ll post other types of resources and anecdotes. I hope what I share is helpful or at least fun.

If Dali were to write a book on living life, I think her first principle would be: Don’t Take “No” for an Answer.

Don’t let this picture fool you. She looks pretty cute and innocent, but she can be incredibly determined and stubborn. I once asked my husband, Irwin, what kind of work Dali would do if she were human. We came up with some kind of artist because she has a gift for expressing her emotions. But, Oskar does, too. It’s just that he is much more easy-going. If he doesn’t get his way, he makes the best out of the situation. Not Dali. Dali sulks. If we don’t go the direction she wants, she can stop and smell the grass every two seconds. We make no progress. She has made her displeasure known. Sometimes she’ll loop back towards home and we end up walking a very short walk because we didn’t go the way Dali wanted to go.

Even though these qualities seem kind of opposite to each other, I see value in them both and learn from my two companions. Knowing what you want and going for it is certainly a helpful quality to have. I have different projects I’d like to accomplish, and sometimes I get stuck in figuring out which project to work on and what step should I take next. Dali is an inspiration. She plows straight ahead and figures things out as she goes along. Dali makes her own path.

And I learn from Oskar, too.

It is a real strength to be flexible and be able to change courses when the situation warrants. He is more of a team-player and that comes in handy in our social world. I’ve gotten better at that throughout the years. I’ve learned that although whatever situation I might be in, even if it is not my favorite, like finding myself at lunch or dinner with people I don’t know or don’t like, I can make the best out of the situation. I can make that my goal and when I do that, I feel good about myself and often find I have a better time than I expected.